Cricket: Singapore win nail-biter but fail to gain promotion

Singapore's cricket players arriving in Kenya for warm-up matches ahead of their World Cricket League Division 3 (WCL 3) campaign in Uganda. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Singapore produced their best bowling performance in the World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3 tournament yesterday to beat overnight leaders Canada by two runs. But that was still not enough for them to gain promotion.

Oman beat Malaysia by 131 runs to take top spot among the six nations after the round-robin matches, with eight points.

Singapore and Canada finished on six points each. But the Canadians gained promotion to WCL Division 2 because of a better net run rate (0.817/Singapore -0.410).

Singapore and the United States - who beat hosts Uganda by 13 runs - remain in WCL Division 3, while Malaysia and Uganda were relegated.

Singapore crumbled to 166 all out in 36.4 overs at the Kyambogo Oval in Kampala.

Only Anish Paraam (58), captain Chetan Suryawanshi (38) and Janak Prakash (27) put up any resistance as left-arm medium-pacer Bhavindu Adhihetty took 3-10 for Canada.

"We went for our shots as our aim was to put up 300 runs at least," said Suryawanshi. "But it was a difficult pitch to bat on. We also did not have our regular opener Chaminda (Ruwan) as his son was unwell and he had to fly back home."

When Canada batted, 16-year-old Janak (3-16) produced an outstanding opening spell to leave them tottering at 19-3.

Navneet Dhaliwal (37) and Rizwan Cheema (42) carried Canada to 144-6, before Singapore's spinners Anantha Krishna (3-39) and Dharmichand Mulewa (2-48) returned to bowl the Canadians out for 164 in 38 overs.

Canada lost three wickets in the 38th over, with Krishna taking two wickets and Prakash, the Man of the Match, effecting a brilliant run out.

"We fought really hard for the win, but that wasn't enough to take us over the line (gain promotion)," said Singapore's coach Sarika Prasad. "I'm proud of how the boys played despite the team being without three senior players (two were injured). Our batting did not really click in the tournament. But overall we played a good brand of cricket."

Singapore play the US for third place at the Kyambogo Oval today.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 30, 2017, with the headline Cricket: Singapore win nail-biter but fail to gain promotion. Subscribe